March 5, 2010 - Negotiations between American Airlines Flight Attendants
and management broke down on Wednesday when the company left the
bargaining table with ten hours remaining before the scheduled end of
the intense five-day bargaining session.

At 6:30 pm ET, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA)
gave the company a realistic proposal that addressed the Flight
Attendants’ needs and the company’s concerns. Rather than take any time
to consider this offer, the Company exited the room informing APFA that
it would not be in position to make a counter-proposal this evening.

“This conduct
is just another demonstration of the Company’s bad faith bargaining that
has been in full bloom for the past 23 months,” said APFA President
Laura Glading. “This display shows complete disrespect and disregard for
our hard working Flight Attendants.

“APFA remains prepared to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement, but
it is clear, now more than ever, that the company does not share the
same interest,” Glading continued. “Delay only serves the company. Each
day without a new agreement equals another million dollars in the pocket
of American.

“The company’s actions speak loudly. When the bargaining party that sits
across the table does not want to reach an agreement, that leaves the
other party with no recourse other than to move to the next step,”
Glading continued. “We have exhausted all of our options and will now
meet with our Board this weekend to move forward with the balloting of
the membership for a strike vote.”

APFA will be contacting the National Mediation Board tomorrow to
schedule a meeting to request a release into a thirty-day cooling off
period, at the end of which, APFA can choose to engage in a strike or
other forms of self-help.

“Flight Attendants have been down this path before and we remain unified
and strong. Now, with no other options on the table, management has
forced us to take the next step necessary to get the contract we have
worked so hard for,” Glading concluded.